Beamish Suzuki – some British with a touch of the orient!

Thanks to Mike Pearce who worked and was mentored by his good friend Mick Whitlock, we are able to show you some factory shots of the famous Beamish Suzuki and Gollner Yamaha (1971), before Yamaha Motor Co produced it’s own trials machine which we have already seen here on Trials Guru.

Mick Whitlock was of course better known as the brains behind the Whitehawk concern from Hampshire.

GOLLNER YAMAHA:

Mick Whitlock left with Bob Gollner from Denmead and the Gollner Yamaha back in 1971. Was this the first Yamaha based trials bike?The Whitlock framed Gollner Yamaha of 1971.Dean Price (Gollner’s workshop foreman) demonstrates how light the Gollner Yamaha really was.

BEAMISH SUZUKI:

Beamish Suzuki, was of course backed and financed by Graham Beamish a well known scrambler and with full assistance of Suzuki Motor Co, they produced the British built Beamish Suzuki. The frame kits manufactured by Whitehawk.

A one-off works Beamish Suzuki 250 of Chris Sutton from 1978.Drive side view of the special works Beamish Suzuki 250 used by Chris Sutton.Beamish Suzuki frames, factory fresh at Whitehawk.Top sidecar drivers flocked to buy the Beamish Suzuki chassis, including Cornishman, Colin Dommett who won British titles and helped develop the chassis.Mick Whitlock poses with an array of his handiwork at Whitehawk.Beamish Suzuki frame takes shape in the specially made frame-jig at Whitehawk.

Many thanks to Mike Pearce of Winchester for sharing with ‘Trials Guru’ these fantastic photos. More to come!

John Reynolds on his Beamish Suzuki 325 on Calliach at the SSDT in 1980 – Photo: Iain Lawrie, Kinlochleven